Thrashers send oft injured first draft pick Stefan to AHL

ATLANTA -- Patrik Stefan, the first player drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers when they became an NHL expansion team in 1999, was reassigned on Monday to Chicago of the American Hockey League.

Stefan has had injury problems throughout his career. He was limited to only five games with Atlanta after breaking a cheekbone on Oct. 6 at Boston and a hyper-extending an elbow at Los Angeles on Nov. 3.

He has one goal this season, giving him 57 points (16 goals, 41 assists) in 143 career games with the Thrashers.